Drain guard for washing machines



April 26, 1927.

LE ROY w. TILT DRAIN GUARD FOR WASHING MACHINES Filed July 7, 1926 Patented Apr. 26, 1927.

UNITED STATES LE ROY W. TILT, 0F BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

DRAIN GUARD FOR WASHING MACHINES.

Application filed July 7, 1926. Serial No. 120,908.

This inventlon relates to washing machines of the type having a bottom drain outlet connected to a pump for removing the spent washing fluid from the machine.

More especially the invention relates to a drain guard for washing machines.

In the use of washing machines having a drain for the water which has been used it sometimes happens that an article being washed is drawn into the mouth of the drain and plugs it up. Even where no pump is used for the drainage this is a subject of much annoyance. If a pump is used, as is common in many washing machines this not. only is annoying but becomes a sourceof damage as a small article or a portion of a larger article may be drawn into the works of ,the pump with resultant destruction of the article and damage and choking of the pump; {If the pump is damaged it is, of course, necessary to take it apart and repair or replacethe damaged part. If the pump is simply choked but not damaged it still remains necessary to take it apart. All this means less of time and money.

The principal object of the invention is to provide an improved draln guard for such washing machines which may be readily removed and replaced and which will effectually prevent an article of the wash being drawn into the drain.

-,Wlll the above and other objects in view the invention consists in general 0 certam novel details of construction and combinations of arts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and. specifically claimed. 4

In the accompanying drawings like characters of reference indicate like parts in the several views, and:

Fi re 1 is a side elevationof a washing machine partly broken away to show the im roved drain guard therein.

igure 2 is an enlargeddet'ail, vertical section through the drain and guard and showing the associated parts.-

' Figure 3 is a section on the line Figure 2.

In the embodiment of the invention herein disclosed a tub 10 of the ordinary cylindrical shape common in this type of washing machine is shown as; provided with a bottom ll. In the bottom adjacent the side wall of thetub is an inverted frusto-conical drain opening 12' from which a pipe 13 extends to the pump 14. This drain opening is closed during the washing operation by a plug 15' carrying an upwardly extending overflow pipe 16 'to' which is conne'ted a lift rod 17 terminating near the open top of the tub so that the plug and overflow pipe may be manipulated Without making it necessary to dip ones hand in the wash water. These parts are those usually found in such washing machines and, while the clothes are intended to be kept in an inner basket or spinner, yet articles will occasionally get into the space near near the drain and, being hidden by the basket, will be drawn into the drain without being observed.

The guard itself consists of a vertically disposed perforated plate 18 bent to U-shape in plan and having a cover plate 19 fitting the top edge of with an arcuate edge 20 conforming to the curvature of the inner surface of the side of the tub 10; In thistop plate is an opening 21 of such size as to slide over the pipe 16 and from this 0 ening extends a slot 22 for the reception 0 the lift rod 17. Fixed to the bottom of the tub is a leaf spring having a base 23 by which it issecured'to said bottom and an upstanding finger 24 engaging the wall 18 to force the end edges of said'wall 18 and the arcuate edge 20 of the top firmly into contact with the side wall of the tub 10 whereby the guard is securely held in position to cover and protect the drain opening 12. Nevertheless, the guard may be easily removed by simply lifting it-u wardly until it is above the pipe 16 and t en moving it inwardly toward the center of the hub to free it from the lift rod.

With the guard in position it is obvious that'none of the artic es being washed can be drawn into the drain.

There has thus been provided a simple ande'fiicient device of the kind described and for the purpose specified. Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, is:

1. In provided with a side wall and with a drain opening in its bottom adjacent said side wall, a guard of perforated metal covering the drain opening and having one end shaped to conform to said side wall, and spring means carried by the tub and engaging the guard to force it against the side wall thereof.

the plate 18 and provided a washing machine having a tub' 3. In a washing machine having a tube.

provided with a side wall and with a drain opening in its bottom adjacent said side wall, a guard of perforated metal covering the drain opening and having one end spring having a base portion fixed to shaped to conform to said side wall, and a leaf spring having a base portion fixed to the bottom of the tub and an upstanding portion engaging the end of the guard remote from said side wall and forcing the guard thereagainst, said tub having a plug for said drain opening provided with an upstanding overflow pipe and also having a lift rod carried by the pipe and extending parallel thereto, said guard having an opening for the reception of said pipe and an open ended slot to receive the lift rod.

In testimony whereofl afiix my signature.

LE ROY W. TILT. 

